Man wins $1 million in national horse racing handicapping tourney — then celebrates wildly

Michael Beychok went from stoic to celebratory in a split second.

Beychok, a native of Baton Rouge, La., won a $1 million prize at the National Handicapping Championship on Saturday at Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The tournament, a two-day horse racing event that began on Friday, consisted of a field of 482 handicappers.

The tournament’s format requires each handicapper to place 15 mythical $2 win-place bets on each of the two days, according to the Daily Racing Form. Eight races are mandatory and seven are “player’s choice,” with all bets being placed on races at one of six designated contest tracks.

Beychok didn’t secure the victory until the final race, when the horse he took won. Or at least I think that’s what happened. To be honest, I know nothing about this tournament and know even less about horse racing.

Come to think of it, the only reason why I’m writing about this event — an event I’ve never heard of until today— is to show you the video below, which is funny and exciting all at once.

Check out Beychok’s reaction to winning the race.

BTB Note: h/t to @darrenrovell for the video. 

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